Critical ThinkingJournal

Name:__________________________________________

Date began: __________

Date completed: __________

Dear student,

In your journal I want you to chart your progress as you learn to rearrange your thinking.Pick one thing to ponder each week. Spend a minimum of an hour per day, 5 days per weekminimum, on your course work. This will include studying the textbook, watching andstudying the videos, if you are taking video classes, and working on your journal. The largestportion of time each week should be spent working on your journal.

You can pick any thing to ponder that you wish for each week. Some things may take morethan one week but make that the exception. Use the RRA from pages 35-39 in the textbook tohelp you arrange your thinking. This is a very basic exercise to help you start learning to thinkcritically instead of chaotically. It is designed to help you avoid the natural tendency towardegocentric or sociocentric or just plain lazy thinking and actually think about what you hear orread or see before you believe it, espouse it, or disagree with it.

In future Critical Thinking courses you will learn more in depth ways to arrange yourthinking, such as FRISCO and SEBKUS. These are explained in the Critical Thinking Itextbook but you will not utilize them in this current Journal. They are for future ones.

On pages 49 and following in the textbook are some questions for consideration. You maychoose from them your thing to consider for your weekly Journal work or you may use others.It is your choice but I do want you to use at least half of them in that list. However, for the onesyou choose that are not in that list, do not choose trite topics and then give them a nominaltreatment in your Journal. Choose ones that you or your group may believe but you don’tknow, biblically, why you believe them nor could you defend them against dissenters nor teachthe biblical basis for them to others. Give them a thorough treatment, not just a cursory one.

At the end of this course you will submit a copy of your Journal for assessment. Before yousubmit it you will need to go through it from beginning to end and write a Summary and thena Self-Assessment of your progress. Pages and instructions for those two can be found at theend of this Journal.

Preparation: Read pages 35-39 in the textbook before you begin your Journal.

Dr. T.E. VanBuskirkTaylorsville, UTJune 24, 2017

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 1

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39 as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 2

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 3

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 4

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages35-39 as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 5

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 6

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 7

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 8

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 9

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages35-39 as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 10

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 11

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 12

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages35-39 as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 13

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 14

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 15

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 16

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 17

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 18

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages 35-39as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the firstidea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presented to you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 19

Pick one thing to ponder per week. Go through the process of the RRA from pages35-39 as you think about it. When finished, go through it at least 2 more times.

RRA - (3 Underlying strategies for Critical Thinking) Date: ____________Thing to ponder: ________________________________________________________

Reflection

Reasons

Alternatives

1. Reflection - Stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting thefirst idea that comes into your head, or automatically accepting whatever is presentedto you.2. Reasons - Ask yourself such questions as “How do you know”, "What are thereasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?” thus prodding yourself to havegood Reasons for your views and to seek Reasons for others' views.3. Alternatives - Be very alert for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations,sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 20

Summary and Self-Assessment

Summary:Write a 1 page summary of what you have learned and its effect on you and others. Include some or all of the following: what processes have you learned for improvingyour thinking, how your thinking has changed, how your views and/or beliefs havechanged, how the change in your thinking has impacted your scholastic life, how ithas impacted your family life, how it has impacted the way you relate to others andhow they relate to you, anything else that you see has changed in your way of thinkingand how you view the Word of God and how you view other people and the world ingeneral.

Self-Assessment:Draw this from your Journal. Go through your Journal from beginning to end andassess what you see in the way of progress or improvement in your Critical Thinkingskills as indicated by the notes in your Journal. Include any noticeable changes inwhat you wrote and how you expressed yourself and any comparisons between earlyentries and latter ones.

Use the Summary page for the Summary and the Self-Assessment page for the Self-Assessment. Do not use more than one page for each of those. If you have anyadditional comments, include them on the “Final Thoughts or Comments” page.

Dr. T.E. VanBuskirk - June 24, 2017 - Taylorsville, UT

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 21

Summary:

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 22

Self-Assessment:

Critical Thinking I. Journal p. 23

Final Thoughts or Comments: (If you choose to add them, you may do so; but they are not required.)

Student name: __________________________________ Date: ______________